DNA molecule is in the shape of a double helix, which is basically a twist ladder, as shown in the diagram below. As stated above, the 2 strands on the outer part of the DNA is called sugar phosphate backbone and the bases are linked to them (“DNA Structure”). DNA structures is 2 spirals interweaved with each other, flexing on itself however they never get closer or further apart of each other; they stay parallel ("DNA Structure & DNA Replication").
What the DNA molecule made up of
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long string of nucleotides. Nucleotides are made of sugar (also known as deoxyribose) bound on one side to a nitrogenous base and on the other side to a phosphate group. The outer ring of the DNA strand is a sugar phosphate backbone (Freudenrich).
Nucleotide molecules
DNA is made up of four different compounds called nucleotide bases or organic bases. These compounds are Guanine (G), Adenine (A), Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C). A always pairs with T, and C always pairs with G (Pickering 190).
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T)
Both Adenine and Guanine are purines, which are double ringed structure, and Cytosine and Thymine are both pyrimidine which are a single ringed structure. A purine will always pair up with a pyrimidine. For example Adenine always pairs up with Thymine, and Cytosine always pairs up with Guanine. These bond by hydrogen. Adenine and Thymine are bonded by two hydrogen bonds and cytosine and guanine are bonded by three hydrogen bonds (Freudenrich)
Hydrogen bonds, bond by atoms that are adjacent nucleotides, this means they are on the same molecule, or adjacent nucleotides on different strands of DNA (different molecules). The hydrogen bonds are the cause of the DNA string to twist. (Nucleotide Molecules) The link between DNA, protein, and characteristic
The characteristics of an organism or cell are determined by the protein that the cell can produce. The information for the production of protein in a particular cell is stored in the chromosomes, which contain the genes, which are made up of DNA (Pickering 190).
Diagram 1: the link between DNA, protein, and characteristic
(Pickering 190)
Below is an intersting video on how the information of DNA is turned into proteins
DNA Structure
DNA Structure
DNA molecule is in the shape of a double helix, which is basically a twist ladder, as shown in the diagram below. As stated above, the 2 strands on the outer part of the DNA is called sugar phosphate backbone and the bases are linked to them (“DNA Structure”). DNA structures is 2 spirals interweaved with each other, flexing on itself however they never get closer or further apart of each other; they stay parallel ("DNA Structure & DNA Replication").
Diagram 2: DNA molecule structure
Structure of DNA in 3D
Below is a video showing the structure of DNA
(DNA Structure) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qy8dk5iS1f0)
What the DNA molecule made up of
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long string of nucleotides. Nucleotides are made of sugar (also known as deoxyribose) bound on one side to a nitrogenous base and on the other side to a phosphate group. The outer ring of the DNA strand is a sugar phosphate backbone (Freudenrich).
Nucleotide molecules
DNA is made up of four different compounds called nucleotide bases or organic bases. These compounds are Guanine (G), Adenine (A), Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C). A always pairs with T, and C always pairs with G (Pickering 190).
Both Adenine and Guanine are purines, which are double ringed structure, and Cytosine and Thymine are both pyrimidine which are a single ringed structure. A purine will always pair up with a pyrimidine. For example Adenine always pairs up with Thymine, and Cytosine always pairs up with Guanine. These bond by hydrogen. Adenine and Thymine are bonded by two hydrogen bonds and cytosine and guanine are bonded by three hydrogen bonds (Freudenrich)
Hydrogen bonds, bond by atoms that are adjacent nucleotides, this means they are on the same molecule, or adjacent nucleotides on different strands of DNA (different molecules). The hydrogen bonds are the cause of the DNA string to twist.
The link between DNA, protein, and characteristic
The characteristics of an organism or cell are determined by the protein that the cell can produce. The information for the production of protein in a particular cell is stored in the chromosomes, which contain the genes, which are made up of DNA (Pickering 190).
Diagram 1: the link between DNA, protein, and characteristic
(Pickering 190)
Below is an intersting video on how the information of DNA is turned into proteins
(From DNA to Protein) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D3fOXt4MrOM)
Works Cited
"DNA Structure & DNA Replication - Biology Online." Life Science Reference - Biology Online. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. <http://www.biology-online.org/1/5_DNA.htm>.
Freudenrich, Craig. “How DNA Works.” How Stuff Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/dna1.htm>.
“DNA structure.” University of Illinois at Chicago. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://www.uic.edu/classes/phys/phys461/phys450/ANJUM04/>.
DNA Structure . You Tube. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qy8dk5iS1f0]].
From DNA to Protein. You Tube. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3fOXt4MrOM>.
Nucleotide Molecules . N.d. Oracle ThinkQuest. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://library.thinkquest.org/04apr/00774/en/biology.html>.
Pickering, Ron. Complete Biology. Oxford: OUP Oxford, 2009. Print.
"ISB 202 Global Change: Genes and Inheritance (02/15/07)." Michigan State University. Est. 1855. East Lansing, Michigan USA. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <https://www.msu.edu/course/isb/202/ebertmay/notes/snotes/02_15_07_genes_evo2.html>.
"DNA." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA>.